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The Republicans have taken control of the Senate with this year's midterm elections. NPR's Greg Allen looks at the Senate race in Missouri, where Republican Jim Talent's won a close victory over Democrat Jean Carnahan.

Host Bob Edwards talks with Senate Minority Leader, but soon to be Majority Leader, Trent Lott about what the future holds. Now that the Republicans control all three branches of federal government, the party is already planning ahead.

The climate pattern known as La Niña generally brings winters that are drier and warmer than usual across the southern U.S. and cooler and wetter in the northern part of the country.

Commentator Mark Allen has this story of the teacher who had the most influence on him growing up. On Halloween during his senior year of high school, the algebra teacher, Rhonda Maloney, wore an elaborate ape mask that probably took hours to create. She was the only one in the school to dress up that day. She was taunted and jeered throughout the day, and Mark has never forgotten how she handled the abuse.

NPR's Greg Allen reports on the re-election campaign of Arkansas Sen. Tim Hutchinson, who is thought to be the most endangered GOP senator on the ballot next week. Hutchinson, who ran six years ago as a "family values" conservative, divorced his wife and married an aide shortly after his election. Further, Hutchinson's Democratic opponent, Attorney General Mark Pryor, is the son of one of the state's most revered political figures.

The SEC investigates William Webster's selection to head an accounting oversight board after reports suggest SEC Chairman Harvey Pitt failed to tell other SEC commissioners about problems in Webster's resume. NPR's Scott Horsley reports.

Ballistics tests confirm the rifle linked to the Washington, D.C.-area sniper attacks was also used in a Baton Rouge murder of a beauty supply store worker in September. NPR's Adam Hochberg reports.

With tax revenues waning, many public schools are looking for new sources of money. In the final part of Beyond the Bake Sale a Morning Edition series, NPR's Emily Harris reports on a charter school in Washington, D.C., funded in part by the Marriott Foundation. The school aims to encourage high school students to take up careers in the hotel or restaurant business.

NPR's David Kestenbaum reports that another strong substance may have been mixed with the powerful narcotic gas pumped into a Moscow theater held by Chechen rebels last week. Russian health officials have detected traces of the anesthetic Halothane in the bodies of rescued hostages, but it's unclear whether pending test results will be made public. More than one hundred hostages died from the gas.

Host Alex Chadwick talks to journalist Charles Bowden about his latest book Down by the River. Bowden's investigation of a murder in El Paso, Texas uncovers a story of drugs, corruption and violence involving both sides of the United States - Mexico border.

Robert Siegel and John Ydstie read some letters from All Things Considered listeners. Among the topics this week are yesterday's commentary on sex offenders, the ethnicity of Vogue editor Diana Vreeland, and the crowning of Napoleon.

Some Wall Street analysts warn of a "dismal" holiday shopping season. But others point to the 3.1-percent economic growth rate and say the predictions are overly pessimistic. NPR's Laura Sydell reports.

Ballistics tests confirm the rifle linked to the Washington, D.C.-area sniper attacks was also used in shootings in Louisiana and Alabama. Hear NPR's Barbara Bradley Hagerty and Larry Abramson. Oct. 31, 2002.

The Mississippi legislature has taken up legislation that would reform business liability law in the state. Lawmakers are reacting to accusations that Mississippi has become a magnet for liability litigation. Proponents of the legislation say reform would save businesses millions in court costs every year; opponents say it will only help rich corporations. NPR's David Molpus reports from Mississippi.

In the second of a two part, NPR and National Geographic Expeditions story, Host Alex Chadwick reports on Cornell researcher Kathy Payne, who uses sound recorders to track African elephants. Her elephant listening project may revolutionize the study of wildlife in remote places.

Rescuers in southern Italy are searching for victims trapped in the debris of a school reduced to rubble by an earthquake. More than 20 people were killed, most of them children. NPR's Sylvia Poggioli reports.

NPR's Eric Weiner reports on an American who has lived and worked in North Korea for more than three years. Originally sent to help North Korea build power plants, John Hoag experienced a communist culture of guarded dialogue and secretiveness. Hoag describes a country struggling to balance hard poverty with national pride.

Shipping companies file court papers charging West Coast dock workers with a work slowdown. Union leaders say they are working as fast as they can given the backup resulting from a recent lockout. NPR's Elaine Korry reports.

Many Uyghurs living in Afghanistan want to leave now that the Taliban are back in control. They fear that the Chinese government could push the Taliban to deport them to China.

The U.S. ambassador to Moscow says Russia's reticence about the type of gas used to end the theater siege may have cost lives. But Alexander Vershbow stops short of criticizing Russia for its handling of the crisis. NPR's Michele Kelemen reports.

Cloning an animal is a tedious and difficult process, as shown by six calves cloned by scientists at the U.S. Agriculture Department. So many observers are skeptical of claims of an imminent human clone. NPR's Joe Palca reports.

Reducing poverty tops the priority list for Brazil's president-elect, Luiz da Silva. Poor Brazilians have high hopes for his administration, but "Lula" faces creditors who demand he not bust the federal budget. NPR's Martin Kaste reports. Oct. 30, 2002.

A Wyoming-based conservationist funds a mercenary force to combat Sudanese wildlife poachers in the Central African Republic. The mercenaries have permission to shoot poachers on sight. NPR's Bob Edwards reports.

Commentator Frank Deford talks about sports "stuporstars," or, why Barry Bonds doesn't raise anyone's blood pressure. Deford says the superstar is a thing of the past.

Sissel, a soprano who has been called "Norway's Enya," releases a new album that mixes new age, jazz, classical and pop. Practically a household name in Scandinavia, she's trying to reach a U.S. audience. Sissel speaks with NPR's Bob Edwards. Oct. 30, 2002.